Floating module for the reduction of losses by evaporation in aqueous based liquids

ABSTRACT

A floating module for the reduction of losses by evaporation in aqueous-based liquids which includes two hexagonal, watertight, hollow cells and configured to accommodate an internal ballast; and a perimeter wing arranged on the horizontal axis of the floating module.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for the maintenance of largebodies of water and, more specifically, to systems for the reduction ofwater losses due to the evaporation of these.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

It is known that large masses of water and water-based liquids, such asponds, artificial lakes or pools, suffer losses due mainly toevaporation caused by the action of sunlight and the action of wind.Therefore, systems are needed that cover the surface of the water bodyand prevent these actions from sunlight and wind, reducing evaporationlosses.

These systems consist, essentially, of floating modules, floatingcovers, shading covers and chemical barriers. The floating modules areconstituted by pieces of plastic or any other material that float on thesurface. Floating covers are plastic sheets that float on the surfaceand need an anchorage to the perimeter of the body of water. The shadecovers consist of structures that cover the body of water providingshade. Finally, chemical barriers are chemical products that create athin hydrophobic layer on the surface of the body of water.

Within all the systems, the only one that allows an adaptation to anytype of water mass, by surface and geometry, being able to cover 100% ofthe surface without the need for civil works, with little maintenanceand long lifespan, is that of floating modules.

However, the vast majority of existing floating modules require complexassembly prior to use. In addition, these modules have a very highweight to ensure proper handling, since they need a large amount ofmaterial that allows sufficient rigidity to fit the parts that composethem.

In the state of the art there are floating modules formed by circularbase pieces that have the disadvantage of not covering 100% of thesurface of the water body. In addition, these modules suppose a weightof between 4-5 Kg to cover 1 m2, which causes handling problems. Anotherdrawback of the current floating modules is that, if they aremanufactured lightweight to favor buoyancy, they are easily lifted bythe effect of wind suction, not fulfilling the proposed objective ofcovering the body of water.

Document ES1162209U describes a floating module for the reduction oflosses by evaporation in water-based masses and water-based liquids,characterized in that it comprises a plurality of independentlongitudinal cells arranged in parallel and a plurality of orificesarranged in the longitudinal cells for ballasting with liquid. Thepresent invention is to improve the geometry and general operation ofthe device described in this document.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a floating modulethat solves the problems described in the state of the art. Thus, anobject of the present invention is a floating module that maintains itsbuoyancy characteristics, even if they break or deteriorate. Anotherobject of the present invention is to provide a floating module that canbe manufactured using different techniques and in different materials,such as plastic polymers, which simplifies and cheapens production.

Another object of the invention is to provide a floating module thatadapts to any type of mass of water and water-based liquids,independently of the surface of the mass, its geometry, the slopes ofthe reservoirs and other elements of the mass. In addition, the floatingmodule must adapt to any type of water body and its level ups or downs.

Another object of the present invention is that the modules resistsunlight and allow navigation in the body of water for maintenance work;be easy to install and maintain; that its recovery is possible for itssubsequent recycling; and that they allow a simple transport andinstallation.

Another object of the invention is the resistance to wind events inorder to avoid dragging it out of the reservoir and its stacking onslopes located to windward thanks to its ballasting, as well as toquickly recover their optimal working position in the event of stronggusts of wind by the self-flip effect for which they are designed.

All objects of the invention are achieved by the floating module ofclaim 1. Other particular embodiments of the invention are described inthe dependent claims. More specifically, the floating module for thereduction of losses by evaporation of liquids in water bodies andliquids in aqueous base is formed by one or two sealed cells ofpolygonal shape, preferably two of hexagonal shape, independent of oneanother but joined together, where each of the cells is configured forthe ballasting of said cells by means of a liquid housed therein andwhich, moreover, has the peculiarity of incorporating a wing distributedaround the perimeter.

The module of the invention, in a particular use thereof, is arranged onthe surface of the aqueous mass, taken one by one or in combination witha plurality of modules joined or not together to cover 100% of thesurface of the aforementioned mass of water, floating above it andpreventing the entry of sunlight and the action of the wind, which arethe atmospheric agents responsible for evaporation.

The internal compartments to accommodate the ballast allow, thanks tothe self-flipping effect, that the position of the modules is always thedesigned for optimum performance, and that in the case of high winds themodule regains its operating position.

Throughout the description and the claims, the word “comprises” and itsvariants are not intended to exclude other technical characteristics,additives, components or steps. For those skilled in the art, otherobjects, advantages and characteristics of the invention will emergepartly from the invention and partly from the practice of the invention.The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustrationand are not intended to restrict the present invention. In addition, theinvention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferredembodiments indicated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Next, a series of drawings that help to better understand the inventionand that are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention, whichis illustrated as a non-limiting example thereof.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a particular embodiment of a floatingmodule object of the present invention of rectangular shape and formedby two hexagonal cells.

FIG. 2 shows a partial section in perspective of an alternativeembodiment of a floating module object of the present invention thatincludes an internal compartment configured to accommodate a ballast.

FIG. 3 shows a diagram of the operation of the invention. Where is showna cell (2) without compartment (FIG. 3a ) and with compartment (FIG. 3b) according to the invention.

EXPLANATION OF A DETAILED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION AND EXAMPLES

As can be seen in the attached figures, the floating module (1)configured for the reduction of losses caused by evaporation inwater-based liquids and, particularly, in water bodies, such as ponds,artificial lakes, etc. marshes or pools.

More specifically, each of the floating modules (1) consists of one ortwo sealed cells of polygonal plant, preferably hexagonal (2), which areindependent of each other and configured as a hollow body and tightlyconfigured to accommodate a ballast, preferably water, since it is theway to ballast the floating module (1).

Each of the modules (1) incorporates a perimeter wing (4) and allows tocover more or less watery surface depending on the overlap between thewings (4) of the modules (1)

According to different particular embodiments of the invention, thecells (2) can have different drafts and geometries as long as theymaintain their polygonal shape, preferably hexagonal or bi-hexagonal inthe plane of their working position. That is, the cells (2) have such ageometry that prevents the permanent stacking of some modules on othersdue to the wind, precisely due to the joint action of the location andspan of the ballast and the rounded surface of the module (1).

The ballasting of the floating module (1) can be carried out byincluding in the manufacture a quantity of water in the differentcompartments of the cell or independent cells (2) that form the module(1). According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, theballasting of the modules (1) will be done by fixing said amount ofwater to its working position by adding thereto some kind of innocuousadditive that thickens, gels or solidifies the ballast, confining it inthe interior compartment of each cell (2).

The module (1) described allows to achieve a weight reduction inrelation to those currently existing, and maintains the necessary windresistance thanks to ballasting. The geometry of the modules (1) makesit possible to move the upper surface thereof away from the surface ofthe body of water so that there is no ponding effect on the module (1),or heating of the surface of the water body to cover.

In a particular embodiment of the invention the module (1) is made in aplastic polymer, although they can be made in any material that hasequivalent mechanical characteristics. The cells (2) are articulatedtogether by means of a separating element (3) that grants a degree offreedom in the axis orthogonal to the work plane.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the invention in which thehexagonal cells (2) are compartmented by means of a plastic sheet whichcan be laminar, as can be seen in said FIG. 3, or have greater or lesserthickness, or present any type of configuration.

The compartments (5) are separated by a sheet (7) made therein with thesame material that the hexagonal cell or hexagonal cells (2), as acontinuation of these, although they could also be made in any othermaterial that would be considered advantageous in each particular case.

The function of the internal compartments (5) is shown in FIG. 3. FIG.3a shows, schematically, a cell (2) without compartments and ballasted(6). In case of wind action, the cell (2) will be placed in verticalposition and orthogonal with respect to the water surface, the ballast(6) will be placed in its lower area and will have a stable verticalposition. Since this verticality implies that the cell (2) is orthogonalto the aqueous surface, the module (1) without compartments could notfulfill its function of returning to the operating position in thepresence of strong gusts of air.

However, when the cell or cells (2) are compartmentalized (5) then thesituation is that shown in FIG. 4b . The ballast (6) is located in thelower compartment (5) of the cell (2) and, when there is a turn causedby a strong wind, the cell is turned 90° until reaching the orthogonalposition mentioned above. However, in this case, the ballast (6) locatedin one of the compartments (5) of the cell (2) will accumulate on asingle side, making the vertical position unstable and tending,therefore, to recover its horizontal position with respect to theaqueous liquid and thus fulfill the function for which it has beendesigned.

Finally, it should be noted that the floating module (1) can be made byextrusion, molding, thermoforming, injection of plastics, or acombination of these techniques. Subsequently, the module (1) will beprocessed and the necessary machining will be performed, such as thearrangement of the compartment (5) for ballasting, articulation ofspacer elements (3) and configuration of perimeter wings (4) for,finally, cut it with the concrete desired shape.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A floating module for reduction of losses byevaporation in water-based liquids, comprising at least one cell of apolygonal plant that is watertight, hollow and is configured toaccommodate a ballast inside an internal compartment; and a perimeterwing disposed on the horizontal axis of the floating module; in such away that the module is configured to recover from the action of the winda horizontal and floating position with respect to the water-basedliquid.
 10. The floating module of claim 9, wherein the interior of thecell is divided into at least two compartments by an intermediate sheethaving different dimensions and configurations.
 11. The floating moduleof claim 10, wherein at least one polygonal cell as well as theintermediate sheet are made by one or more different plastic polymers.12. The floating module of claim 9, wherein at least one polygonal cellis hexagonal.
 13. The floating module of claim 9, further comprising twopolygonal cells.
 14. The floating module of claim 9, further comprisinga separating element configured to articulate the union between cells.15. The floating module of claim 9, wherein the ballast is a liquidcomprising an additive configured for fixing the ballast liquid to itsworking position.
 16. The floating module of claim 9, where the floatingmodule is obtained by a manufacturing process selected from extrusion,molding, thermoforming, injection of plastics or a combination thereof.